Barber Dimes 1892-1916

About This Series

Charles E. Barber's Liberty Head design brought uniformity to America's silver coinage when it debuted simultaneously on the dime, quarter, and half dollar in 1892 — the only time three denominations received the same designer's portrait in a single year. The dime depicts Liberty wearing a Phrygian cap wreathed in laurel, with the reverse showing a cereal wreath enclosing the denomination. The 1894-S stands as the series' most famous rarity and one of the greatest in all of American numismatics: only 24 were struck at the San Francisco Mint, with approximately 9 surviving today, and a specimen sold for $1.99 million at auction in 2016. Beyond the legendary 1894-S, the 1895-O, 1896-S, and 1901-S are genuinely scarce dates that challenge collectors building complete sets. Struck in 90% silver at 2.50 grams on a 17.9mm planchet, Barber dimes circulated heavily through a quarter century of American life spanning the Gay Nineties, the Spanish-American War, and the early years of World War I. Production took place at Philadelphia, Denver (from 1906), San Francisco, and New Orleans (through 1909), providing four mintmark varieties for many years. The series rewards patient collecting: while key dates are expensive, the majority of issues are modestly priced in circulated grades, making a near-complete set achievable for dedicated collectors.

Series Information